South African ace AB de Villiers' decision to travel to Pakistan for the home-leg of the Pakistan Super League 2019 has earned him plaudits from his former Proteas teammates and others.

De Villiers, the top pick of last year's draft, on Monday announced that he will be visiting Pakistan in March as part of the Lahore Qalandars roster to play PSL matches at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The hard-hitting African's decision has delighted his erstwhile national teammate and PSL 2019 champion JP Duminy, who represented Islamabad United last year but will miss the tournament's next edition due to an injury.

“I am delighted that AB has decided to play Lahore Qalandars’ back-to-back matches at the Gaddafi Stadium on 9 and 10 March. I am sure when he takes the field, he will be amazed to see the electric atmosphere, passion and excitement in the crowds,” Duminy is quoted as saying by PSL-T20.com.

“The March visit will also allow AB to sense the status and respect he commands in this part of the world, as well as the impact he has made on Pakistan cricket. These people love cricket and have tremendous respect for high-performing cricketers like AB.

“The HBL PSL is a tournament which is growing fast, and with its successful staging in Pakistan, prospects of international cricket returning to the country have also brightened.

“I am sure when AB will look back at his glittering and marvellous career, he will say with pride and satisfaction that he also played a part in the revival of international cricket in Pakistan.”

Fans will line-up in huge numbers to see AB play: Sammy

West Indies star and Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy, arguably the most popular of PSL's foreign imports, recalled his experience of playing in Pakistan for De Villiers' benefit.

“AB has entertained the world through his exploits," he said. "I am glad that he has decided to show his skills in Lahore, which I am sure will be hugely appreciated by the courteous and supportive Pakistan cricket fans.

“De Villiers is a champion cricketer and I am excited for the players who will get to experience playing in Lahore with him and for the thousands of crazy Pakistan cricket fans who, I am sure, will line-up in huge numbers to see AB play.

“I played in Lahore and Karachi in 2017 and 2018 and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The excitement and enthusiasm I saw in Lahore and Karachi was second to none and it just drives home the fact that this game is what it is because of these lovely fans.

“Sadly, I will not get a chance to play against AB in Lahore but I will be watching the match on the television and I am sure we will get to see some great cricket.”

AB playing means a lot to Pakistan fans: Jordan

England fast bowler Chris Jordan, who will again represent Peshawar Zalmi, also lauded De Villiers' decision, saying: “I am glad AB de Villiers was able to make this decision of touring Pakistan.

“The love and appreciation that we received when we played in Lahore and Karachi was beyond amazing. Pakistani fans just love their cricket and to be able to experience that is something I cherish till date and look forward to this year as well. I am sure AB will have a very similar experience.

“When you play in Pakistan, it just puts into perspective what an entire generation of their fans has missed out on and, seeing how the fans are reacting to this news, clearly it means a lot to them that AB will be playing in front of them. AB de Villiers is a great addition to this group of international cricketers who want to see international cricket return to Pakistan.”

De Villiers’ Lahore Qalandars will be in action on the opening day of PSL 2019 when they take on reigning champions Islamabad United in Dubai. The PSL 2019 starts on Feb 14 and ends in Karachi on March 17.

The 2019 edition of the PCB's flagship product will see eight of its matches played in Pakistan – three in Lahore and five in Karachi.

Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday announced that the International Cricket Council’s international panel umpire Michael Gough will travel to Lahore to umpire matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019.

Gough, 39, will umpire in the matches to be held on March 9 and 10, set to take place between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, and Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans, respectively.

Gough, a former first-class cricketer for Durham, is one of the most respected umpires on the ICC panel. He has to date officiated in eight Tests, 49 ODIs and 13 T20Is since making his international debut in August 2013.

This will be Gough’s debut HBL PSL event and he will also be involved in the UAE leg of the series.

Also umpiring in this year's PSL edition from the ICC’s international panel will be Sri Lanka’s Ranmore Martinesz. The 51-year-old will complete a hat-trick of appearances in the HBL PSL and will be based in Karachi after completing his UAE assignments.

Martinesz, who played four first-class matches in the 1994-95 season, has umpired in eight Tests, 46 ODIs and 29 T20Is.

Joining Gough and Martinesz in the UAE-leg of HBL PSL 2019 matches will be England’s World Cupper and member of the ICC’s elite umpiring panel Richard Illingworth. This will be Illingworth’s second appearance in the HBL PSL 2019.

Illingworth, 55, played in nine Tests and 25 ODIs for England, while he has umpired in 39 Tests, 59 ODIs and 16 T20Is to date.

Other umpires on the HBL PSL 2019 panel are: Ahsan Raza, Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz and Shozab Raza. All the four are members of the PCB Elite Panel of Umpires, while Rashid was adjudged as the Umpire of PSL 2018.

Russell played for Islamabad United last season and will be available for the Sultans for the first seven matches in the United Arab Emirates and will not take part in the Pakistan leg. — File

LAHORE: Multan Sultans replaced injured former Australian captain Steve Smith with West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell in the replacement draft of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held on Thursday.

The Sultans also scooped England batsman James Vince to replace his fellow countryman Joe Denly, who will be on national duty in the West Indies.

Russell’s compatriots Dwayne Smith and Andre Fletcher will also be involved in the upcoming season with the former being drafted in by Quetta Gladiators and the latter by Peshawar Zalmi.

Lahore Qalandars, meanwhile, have brought in South African duo of Hardus Viljeon and David Weise.

Russel played for Islamabad United last season and will be available for the Sultans for the first seven matches in the United Arab Emirates and will not take part in the Pakistan leg.

Vince will give Sultans options at the top of the order and will be looking to replicate the form that saw him score back-to-back half-centuries for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League in Australia.

“We had to deal with the double blow of losing out on Steve Smith and Joe Denly, but we are delighted that we have been able to bring in Andre Russell and James Vince,” said Sultans captain Shoaib

Malik. “Russell is one of the best T20 cricketers in the world and we are confident that he will bring his match-winning instinct to our dressing room this season.”

The Gladiators added Smith — who has formerly featured for United and Zalmi — as cover for his countryman Dwayne Bravo from February 14 to 27 while Fletcher comes into the Zalmi side in place of Waqar Salamkheil, who has withdrawn due to his Afghanistan commitments.

Qalandars’ two South African signings have come as cover for New Zealand’s Corey Anderson and West Indian Carlos Brathwaite.

Anderson will arrive late due to domestic commitments, while Brathwaite is expected to be a part of the West Indies squad for the T20 series against England. The Qalandars will also have star signing A.B. de Villiers available till March 10.

In a bid to encourage local talent, four of the six franchises also named local players to their squads. Qalandars picked middle-order batsman Saad Ali, Sultans drafted all-rounder Hammad Azam, Gladiators brought in paceman Mohammad Irfan Junior while the Karachi Kings have selected spinner Umer Khan.

ISLAMABAD: Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi announced that two cricketers from Turkey would be part of the fourth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Mr Afridi lauded the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan who "aims to develop good relations with Turkey."

“Applaud the vision of Imran Khan who aims to develop good relations with Turkey. This year, we are taking 2 Turkish Cricketers who will be part of the Peshawar Zalmi squad for @thePSLt20,” he said.

The Zalmi foundation held a cricket camp in Ankara.

"Ankara Kriket Sport Külübü Derneği conducted a cricket camp with the help of Zalm Foundation in which aspiring cricketers were invited from all across the country. Peshawar Zalmi aims to promote cricket in Turkey by developing a strategy with Ankara Sports Clubs Association," he said.

This not the first time that Zalmi has chosen to given opportunity to players from cricketing minnows.

In the last league, Zalmi had selected two Chinese players.

In response to Afridi’s tweet, Turkish ambassador in Islamabad Mustafa Yurdakul said that interest in cricket was on the rise in Turkey.

“Interest in #Cricket is growing slowly but concretely in Turkey thanks to our fruitful cooperation with Javed Afridi and Peshawar Zalmi,” the ambassador tweeted.

Ankara Kriket Sport Külübü Derneği conducted a cricket camp with the help of @FoundationZalmi in which aspiring cricketers were invited from all across the country. @PeshawarZalmi aims to promote cricket in Turkey by developing a strategy with Ankara Sports Clubs Association.

PESHAWAR: The popular Pashto singer Gul Panra has been appointed the regional brand ambassador of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi for the 2019 season, Zalmi Foundation and Global Zalmi.

Born Mehnaz on September 6, 1989 in Peshawar, Gul Panra is one of the most popular female performers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan. She is not only famous in the Pashtun regions but got more widespread fame in Punjab and other regions after her duet with Atif Aslam in Coke Studio Pakistan (season 8).

Peshawar Zalmi chairman Javed Afridi took to Twitter on Monday to announce Gul Panra as the official brand ambassador of the team and appreciated her for "being a supporter of his team since PSL’s Season 1".

Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi has once again roped in renowned actress Mahira Khan as brand ambassador for the league's fourth edition.

In a tweet published Saturday, Zalmi announced:

"BREAKING: Our #ForeverZalmi @TheMahiraKhan remains in the @PeshawarZalmi Family as the Brand Ambassador for @thePSLt20 4. She symbolises the passion that Zalmi represents. She is also going to be present at the Kit & Anthem Launch Ceremony on 4th. Pakhair Raghlay!#YellowStorm."

Islamabad United — the winners of the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the defending PSL champions — has announced that pacer Mohammad Sami will captain the side in the fourth edition.

Sami was picked up by Islamabad United in the Gold Category Draft for PSL1. Since then he has taken 37 wickets in 27 PSL matches at an economy rate of just 6.55. Sami is also the second highest wicket taker in PSL history – the highest for Islamabad United — and his economy rate is second only to fellow United left-arm fast-bowler Rumman Raees, among pacers in PSL history.

Sami, who played 136 international matches for Pakistan, has been an ever present for the franchise, and is the senior-most member of the squad for PSL4.

Regarding the appointment, Ali Naqvi, the owner of the franchise said: “Sami has always served the franchise with utmost respect and honour. He has always conducted himself in way that defines us and has been one of the stars for the team over the past three years, winning multiple matches on his own. Furthermore, he has years of captaincy experience — he has captained various Karachi teams, on and off, for almost a decade now — and has been successful in that role. He was our first choice for the role, and we are pleased that he will be leading the franchise for this edition of the PSL.”

Sami welcomed this appointment, saying: “It’s an honour for me that Islamabad United and Ali Naqvi have selected me to lead the franchise. I have always aimed to give my all to the team, to repay the faith that they have vested in him, and I hope that I will be able to rise to this challenge too. I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity and I hope that I will continue Islamabad United’s tradition of success.”

The fourth edition of PSL will begin on February 14, 2019 in United Arab Emirates.

Peshawar Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy arrived in Peshawar on Monday to attend his team's kit and anthem inauguration ceremony ahead of the fourth season of Pakistan Super League (PSL), set to begin on February 14.

The West Indies cricketer was welcomed by the fans as he landed at the Islamabad International Airport, where he was received by the chairman of Peshawar Zalmi, Javed Afridi. Sammy was then taken to Peshawar via motorway amid heavy security.

During his visit, the Zalmi captain will also visit the Army Public School in Peshawar. About 150 people, most of whom were students, were massacred in a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in 2014.

Sammy has been playing for Zalmi since the first season of the PSL and became a fan favourite after he became one of the first international players to visit Pakistan to play the final of the second edition of the tournament that was held in Lahore in 2017. Zalmi also won the tournament under Sammy's captaincy that year.